After the Republican Town Committee recently decided not to endorse Selectman Susan Marks for re-election, instead throwing its support to Spencer McIlmurray, Marks decided she wasn’t stepping down without a contest.
Selectman Susan Marks (shown here at this year\’s town fireworks display she was key in organizing) is running for re-election, challenging the Republican Town Committee\’s endorsement of Spencer J. McIlmurray for her seat on the Board of Selectmen
So on Sunday Marks announced she’s throwing her hat back into the ring, saying she’ll contest that endorsement at the upcoming GOP Town Caucus. The caucus is open to any registered Republican. It meets to nominate candidates on July 27.
“I will be a petitioning candidate at the upcoming Republican caucus,” Marks said in a news release issued Sunday. “I look forward to being nominated and having all registered Republicans exercise their right to vote for me, Susan Marks for Selectman, and my teammates, Jayme Stevenson for First Selectman and Kip Koons for Selectman.”
Stevenson was endorsed for first selectman and Charles “Kip” Koons Jr. was endorsed for selectman (along with McIlmurray) at the Republican Town Committee meeting on Wednesday.
UPDATE, 10:24 p.m., Sunday: Liz Mao, chairman of the Board of Finance, posted this comment on Darienite’s Facebook page: “I will be there, and I will be supporting Susan!” James Palen, former Republican Town Committee chairman and now a candidate for Board of Selectman, posted another comment: “I’ll be there as well and look forward to supporting Susan and the rest of the team!”
Here’s Marks’ full statement, as released on Sunday:
For the past 20 years, I have been a dedicated volunteer in Darien, giving hundreds of hours to better this great town and all of it’s citizens. My involvement within the Republican Party, school community and town organizations all have a track record of proven success and leadership.
For this reason, I will be a petitioning candidate at the upcoming Republican caucus on Monday, July 27th. I look forward to being nominated and having all registered Republicans exercise their right to vote for me, Susan Marks for Selectman, and my teammates, Jayme Stevenson for First Selectman and Kip Koons for Selectman.